Caloocan City
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| Location | |
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| Government | |
| Region | National Capital Region |
| Province | — |
| District | 1st and 2nd Districts of Caloocan City |
| Barangays | 188 |
| Income class: | 1st class city; urban |
| Mayor | Enrico Echiverri (LAKAS-CMD; 2007-2010) |
| Cityhood | February 16, 1962 |
| Official Website | www.caloocancity.gov.ph |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Area | 53.33 km² |
| Population | 1,177,604 22,081/km² |
The City of Caloocan, (Filipino: Lungsod ng Kalookan; alternative spelling: Kalookan City), is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. Located just north of the City of Manila, Caloocan is the country's third most populous city with a population of 1,177,604.
Geography
Caloocan is divided into two separate areas. Southern Caloocan City lies directly north of the City
of Manila and is bounded by Malabon City and Valenzuela City to the north and west, Navotas to the west, and
Quezon City to the east. Northern Caloocan City is the northernmost territory of
Metro Manila; it lies east of Valenzuela City, north of Quezon City, and south of
San Jose del Monte City in the province of
Barangays
The city is politically subdivided into 188 barangays, which are not officially named but numbered simply as Barangay 1 through Barangay 188.[1] However, names of barrios and districts which do not necessarily coincide with barangay perimeters, rather than numbers, are more commonly used.
History
Cradle of the Katipunan
The city is historically significant because it was the center of activities for the Katipunan, the secret militant society that launched the Philippine Revolution. It was in a house in Caloocan where secret meetings were held by Andres Bonifacio and his men, and it was within the city's perimeters where the very first armed encounter took place between the Katipunan and the Spaniards.
The word caloocan comes from the Tagalog root word lo-ok; kalook-lookan (or kaloob-looban) means "innermost area". The City borders many other cities such as Quezon City, Manila, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela and San Jose Del Monte Bulacan in the north. During the formation of Rizal Province, Caloocan was included in its matrix until it became a city in 1962.
The city's most celebrated landmark is the monument of Philippine revolutionary Andres Bonifacio, which is located at the end of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). The memorial was erected in 1933 with sculptures crafted by national artist Guillermo Tolentino to mark the very first battle of the Philippine revolution on August 3, 1896. Recent renovations have been made on the environs of the monument, including the Bonifacio Circle, its former site, and the Caloocan stretch of EDSA, which is 100 meters away from the landmark. The whole area is now known as Monumento.
Highlights
The Light Rail Transit (LRT-1) has a terminal at Monumento. The railway traverses Rizal Avenue Extension of Caloocan City, into the City of Manila and Pasay City. The whole stretch can be traveled in about 30 minutes.
Caloocan City's 10th Avenue area is well-known for the clusters of motorcycle dealers and motorcycle spare parts dealers. Among the major and famous streets are P. Zamora Street and A. Mabini Street.
The city's lone public university is the University of Caloocan City (formerly Caloocan City Polytechnic College). Other educational institution of higher learning are the University of the East - Caloocan, World Citi Colleges and Manila Central University. Several prestigious high schools, such as Notre Dame of Greater Manila, Caloocan City Science High School, Systems Plus Computer College, Philippine Cultural High School (Annex), St. Mary's Academy of Caloocan City (Known as SMACC and formerly known as OLGA or Our Lady of Grace Academy), St. Clare College of Caloocan, and La Consolacion College, are situated in the city.
The city hall is located on A. Mabini Avenue, across the street from San Roque Parish Cathedral.
The North Luzon Expressway Operations and Maintenance Center and the Balintawak Toll Barrier are also housed in Caloocan City.
Controversy
Caloocan once encompassed a much bigger area without being bisected into north and south. During the formation of Quezon City, the districts that are now Balintawak and Novaliches were divvied up and excluded from Caloocan and added to the newly-established Quezon City. Balintawak is a historic district because it was the original site of the "Cry of Pugad Lawin" (Unang Sigaw sa Balintawak) at a location called "Kang-kong" near Tandang Sora's house. Novaliches was an expansive sector with some hillsides that served as meeting places and hideouts for Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan. Teodoro Agoncillo, a Filipino historian, once qouted in the book authored by another historian and National Artist Nick Joaquin MANILA! MY MANILA! the apportioning of Caloocan: "It is a barbaric act that Balintawak was chopped off from its original matrix.. Kalookan". [citation needed]
References
- ^ National Statistical Coordination Board www.nscb.gov.ph. Accessed Nov 28, 2006
External links
| Metropolitan Manila |
|---|
| Caloocan City • Las Piñas City • Makati City • Malabon City • Mandaluyong City • Manila • Marikina City • Muntinlupa City • Navotas City • Parañaque City • Pasay City • Pasig City • Pateros • Quezon City • San Juan City • Taguig City • Valenzuela City |
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